Is the Ancient Bow worth it in Breath of the Wild? A Complete Guide

Hey friend! If you‘ve been hunting Guardians and seeking out ancient Sheikah relics in Breath of the Wild, you may be wondering if the Ancient Bow is worth tracking down. From my experience scouring Hyrule, I can definitively say yes – the Ancient Bow lives up to its legendary status. Let me walk you through why it‘s so valuable, how to get it, upgrade it, and use it effectively based on your playstyle. I‘ll also compare it to other late game bows and breakdown if the investment is justified. So strap on your Adventurer‘s Pouch and let‘s discover the mysteries of this ancient technology together!

An Overview of the Ancient Bow‘s Power

First, what exactly does the Ancient Bow do? Crafted at the Akkala Tech Lab, this ornate blue bow with glowing orange markings provides:

• 44 base damage – Among the highest of any obtainable bow.
• 120 durability – Twice the durability of many high-tier bows.
• Perfectly straight arrows – Allowing easier long range shots.
• 80% damage bonus VS Guardians – When paired with the Ancient Armor set.

Stat-wise, it‘s a powerhouse bow. Here‘s how it compares to other strong late game bows:

As you can see, the Ancient Bow‘s damage and durability combination is unmatched!

Over just 3 minutes of continuous fire, its total damage output is 7920 compared to 5760 on the Royal Bow and 5400 on the Great Eagle Bow. It maintains high DPS without breaking quickly.

Unlocking the Ancient Bow‘s Potential

Now that you see the Ancient Bow‘s capabilities, how do you get it? The process requires:

1) Complete Robbie‘s Research side quest – This allows you to buy ancient parts and weapons.

2) Gather materials – Ancient shafts, screws, cores etc. Guardian Stalkers drop many. Luminous stones also help.

3) Purchase from the Akkala Tech Lab – It costs an ancient core, 5 shafts and 3 screws (1620 rupees total).

I recommend farming Guardians near the Akkala Citadel Ruins or Scouts near Ze Kasho Shrine to gather materials quickly. With decent gear, 3-4 hours of farming should be sufficient.

To upgrade it, you need more ancient materials and rupees. But the investment is well worth it. Fully upgrading it takes 198 ancient screws and 13,730 rupees. Sound like a lot, but it makes the bow nearly unbreakable.

Dominating Guardians with Ancient Tech

Here‘s where the Ancient Bow shines. Its 80% damage bonus against Guardians combined with Ancient Arrows means you can dismantle Stalkers and Turrets with ease.

A few well-placed headshots on a Stalker will activate its eye weak point. Then Ancient Arrows finish it off quickly. Rinse and repeat!

You can snipe Guardian Skywatchers out of the air too. Bomb arrows also knock them down for an opening. Effortlessly clear Hyrule Castle or farm parts with this dominant strategy.

And since the Ancient Bow lasts so long, you can keep firing Ancient Arrows continuously. It really makes you feel like a true warrior wielding ancient Sheikah power.

Pulling Off Long Range Snipes and Trick Shots

Beyond wrecking Guardians, the Ancient Bow excels at long range sniping too. Its laser-straight arrows maintain speed and trajectory for much longer distances.

I love picking off distant Lizalfos and Moblins before they detect me. The Ancient Bow certainly gives you an advantage in stealth.

Bomb arrows get a substantial range increase as well. I‘ve hit targets over 1000 feet away! The Ancient Bow makes pull off outrageous trick shots.

Leading targets and compensating for drop takes practice. But I‘ve found aiming slightly above an enemy‘s head works well at long ranges. Just another skill to master on your journey.

An Arsenal Essential for All Playstyles

No matter your preferred playstyle – warrior, stealth, archer, or mix – the Ancient Bow provides something useful.

Its high damage and durability reinforce close combat. Sniping from afar aids stealth. And no other bow sustains continuous arrow fire as long. I often switch between melee and ranged combat, so its flexibility shines.

For puzzle solving, the straight trajectory helps activate distant switches and triggers. Its powered up arrows can break ore deposits and gathering items far away too.

And simply equipping it makes you feel connected to the ancient Sheikah technology that Link utilizes. It fits wonderfully alongside the Ancient Armor set as well.

Justifying the Investment

As you can see, the Ancient Bow packs a punch! But does it justify the steep material and rupee costs?

In my experience, absolutely. Once fully upgraded, it never leaves my inventory. The damage and durability output exceeds almost every other bow.

Mastering it takes practice, but rewards you with new combat capabilities. And it saves hours of time grinding parts for armor and weapons upgrades.

Many late game armor sets require similar grinding and rupees. But they don‘t provide the same ROI in combat versatility and effectiveness.

Compared to other ancient gear, the Bow‘s useful bonuses against Guardians in particular make it a worthy priority. You‘ll be thankful you invested in it when facing Hyrule‘s toughest foes.

Closing Thoughts on a Sheikah Relic

The adept archers of the Sheikah tribe crafted only their finest technology into the Ancient Bow. Thousands of years later, it has stood the test of time as one of the most powerful bows Link can wield.

Its rare blend of high damage, long range, and tremendous durability provide capabilities unmatched by almost any other bow. While expensive to create, its versatility and strength justify the costs many times over.

I hope this guide gives you insight into unlocking the Ancient Bow‘s potential. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to share more tips from my adventure. Wielding the Ancient Bow‘s arcane power certainly feels like a legendary triumph. May your aim be true, and your quest to defeat Ganon successful, fellow adventurer!